Easy access and egress surfer&#39;s wet suit

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an improved access and egress surfer&#39;s wet suit that comprises a wet suit having an extremity portion with an extremity opening for an extremity, and a gusset at the extremity opening that increases the elasticity of the extremity portion near the gusset; and a releasable closure for securing the gusset around the extremity opening to provide a snug thermal seal for the extremity portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved access and egress wet suits,especially for use by surfers. In particular, the present inventionallows a surfer quick and easy access to and egress from a wet suit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An important feature of wet suits is to provide thermal insulation tothe wearer during a variety of aquatic activities, such as surfing. Wetsuits permit the entry of some water between the wet suit and a user'sbody. Wet suits greatly restrict the circulation of the water, however,so that the water inside the suit warms up as a result of contact withthe user's body. The combination of the thermal insulation of the wetsuit material and the thermal insulation of the warmed water inside thesuit thermally protects the wearer of the suit against cold water.

Wet suits are formed typically from foamed plastic or rubber sheetmaterial, most typically foamed neoprene. This rubber sheet material canhave a fabric layer, often a nylon fabric, bonded to one or both sides.The inside of a wet suit, for example, usually has nylon fabric bondedto the foamed neoprene to provide additional strength and to provide amore comfortable surface against the wearer's skin.

Wet suits can be constructed as full length, single piece suits ortwo-piece suits with separate tops and bottoms. Wet suits are formedfrom a plurality of pieces of rubber sheeting that are glued, taped andsewn together to form a garment which closely conforms to the user'sbody. Wet suits have narrowed legs and arms that help maintain thermalintegrity.

For many aquatic activities, it is desirable for the wet suit to be asstretchable and flexible as possible, while maintaining the thermalproperties. As the need for thermal insulation increases, the thicknessof the suit material is correspondingly increased. Thus, wet suits usedfor cold water aquatic activities are often constructed with a neoprenethickness (for example, up to five millimeters thick) that substantiallyinhibits the stretching and bending which would normally be required toparticipate in the activity.

Getting into and out of a tight fitting wet suit poses a problem formany people. When the user attempts to get in or out of a conventionalwet suit, the narrowed leg and arm portions of the wet suit can make itdifficult. The user of a conventional wet suit has to force her feet andhands through the narrowed openings. This difficulty increases as thewet suit material becomes thicker, and it is further compounded if theuser is wearing a Lycra garment under the wet suit, which often is thecase. Since wet suits are usually donned and removed at locations suchas beaches, inelastic wet suits can require significant and undesirablestruggling and inconvenience to the user as the suit is put on and takenoff.

In addition to a user's typical difficulty getting into or out of thenarrowed extremities, i.e. arm and leg portions, of the conventional wetsuit, many users have reduced flexibility or diminished strength thatcompound access and egress to the conventional wet suit. The diminishedstrength or reduced flexibility of the user may be a chronic ortemporary condition. For example, people who experience thesecompounding physical conditions are: older users, users with diseasesreducing flexibility, such as arthritis, or even temporarily diminishedstrength after a particularly strenuous day.

In light of the above, a need exists for a wet suit that maintainsthermal integrity of the wet suit while permitting users having a rangeof different physical conditions to quickly and easily don the wet suit,take advantage of a wave, and allow easy egress from the wet suit.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies that need. The present invention is animproved access and egress surfer's wet suit that comprises a wet suithaving an extremity portion with an extremity opening for an extremity,and a gusset at the extremity opening, wherein said gusset increases theelasticity of the extremity portion near the gusset; and a releasableclosure for securing the gusset around the extremity opening, andproviding a snug thermal seal for the extremity portion. As used herein,“an extremity portion with an extremity opening for an extremity” of thewet suit includes “an arm portion with a hand opening for a hand” and “aleg portion with a foot opening for a foot.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a wet suit having the novelstructure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of a wet suit having the novel structureof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gusset with areleasable closure on an arm portion of the wet suit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gusset with areleasable closure on a leg portion of the wet suit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a releasableclosure secured or closed around an arm portion of the wet suit shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gusset with areleasable closure on an extremity of the wet suit according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gusset with areleasable closure on an extremity of the wet suit according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of FIG. 7 shown withthe releasable closure secured or closed around an extremity portion ofthe wet suit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an easy access and egress surferwet suit 10 of the present invention. In the front view, a wet suit 12having arm portions 14 with first and second hand openings 16,18 forhands, leg portions 20 with first and second foot openings 22,24 forfeet, and a torso portion 26 is shown. The arm and leg portions 14, 20of the wet suit 12 are shown in a closed or synched tight position. Inthe closed position means that releasable closures 28 (only the exteriorof releasable closures is shown in FIG. 1) secure or fasten the hand andfoot openings, 16,18,22,24 to the arms and legs of a user for a snugthermal seal. The gussets, not shown in this view, are closed by thereleasable closures 28.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the easy access and egress surfer wetsuit 10, gussets 30 are shown in an open position. In the open position,the increased elasticity of gussets 30 facilitates entry of the handsand feet through the hand and foot openings 16,18,22,24 of the armportions 14 and leg portions 20. The arm portions 14 and leg portions 20are referred to generally as extremity portions. The releasable closures28 are shown in the open position means not secured to or closed ontothe arms or legs of the user. Other features shown in FIG. 2 include aplastic zipper (unzipped) 32 extending from the neck portion 34 tomidway in the back of the wet suit 12.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an “open gusset,”previously referred to as a gusset 30 shown in the open position indiscussing FIG. 2. The gusset 30 is located at the first hand opening 16of the arm portion 14, and the releasable closure is a hook and loopfastener 36 with 36 a (hook) and 36 b (loop). The gusset 30 issubstantially in the shape of a triangle. The dimensions of the gusset30 include a base d,e of about 2 inches at the hand opening closest tothe hand, and an apex f,g of about 2 inches measured at the point of thetriangle away from the base d,e. The gusset 30 shown in FIG. 3 was madefrom a web of nylon; whereas, the material on the arm portion—on bothsides of the gusset 30 was made from neoprene. The hook and loopfastener 36 with 36 a and 36 b are on the outside of the arm portion 14.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gusset 30 withthe releasable closure being a hook and loop fastener 36 with 36 a and36 b at the first foot opening 22 of the leg portion 20. The gusset 30is substantially in the shape of a triangle. The dimensions of thegusset 30 include a base h,i of about 2.5 inches at the first footopening closet to the foot, and an apex j,k of about 6 inches measuredat the point of the triangle away from the base h,i. The gusset 30 shownin FIG. 3 was made from a web of nylon; but, 1 millimeter thick neoprenematerial is another suitable material for the gusset 30. The hook andloop fastener 36 with 36 a and 36 b are on the outside of leg portion20.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a “closed gusset”secured over the arm portion 14, previously the “closed gusset” wasreferred to as a gusset 30 shown in the closed position in discussingFIG. 1. In the closed position, the releasable closure 28 (only theexterior of releasable closure is shown) provides a snug thermal sealfor the arm portion 14 as the extremity portion shown in this drawing.

The closed gussets secured by releasable closures provide thermal sealscomparable to prior art wet suits without gussets. Likewise, a closedgusset secured over the leg portion, the other extremity portion,provides a snug thermal seal comparable to a prior art wet suit withoutgussets

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an alternateembodiment of a gusset 30 with the releasable closure being a hook andloop fasteners 36, on the hand or foot opening of the extremity portion38 of the wet suit 12 according to the present invention. The gusset 30shown in this embodiment is a bi-cut shape of two pencil shaped cutsthat form the gusset 30. The releasable closure is a hook and loopfastener 36 on a flap and a D-ring 40 (a metal ring shaped like a D).The hook and loop fastener 36 fits through the D-ring 40, and folds backupon itself to close. A material that can be used to form the gusset inthe bi-cut shapes is 1 millimeter thick neoprene.

Gussets in a variety of different shapes can work in the invention. Inaddition to the triangle and the bi-cut shapes of gussets describedabove, other shapes (not shown) can be used in the present invention.For example, a substantially semi-circular shape made of 1 millimeterthick neoprene can be substituted in place of the above gusset shapes.Other shapes for the gusset include substantially square cut,substantially rectangle cuts, and substantially pencil shaped cut. Thesecuts of gussets can also be made from 1 millimeter thick neoprene.

“Gusset” as that term is used herein is intended to include andencompass one cut or more than one cut, as for example the bi-cut shapedescribed in FIG. 6, so long as the cuts increase the elasticity of thehand or foot opening of the extremity portion of the wet suit.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an alternateembodiment of a gusset 30 with the releasable closure being a belt 42having a first belt end 44 and a second belt end 46 and a press clamp 48(not shown in this Figure). In this embodiment, the belt 42 is woveninside a pocket 50. The belt ends 44, 46 emerge on each side of thegusset 30.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 7 shown with the releasable closure in a closed position. The beltends 44, 46 are shown using the press clamp 48 to secure the area aroundthe extremity portion. The press clamp 48 can be plastic, and the pocket50 can be made of a neoprene material. Other suitable materials that areknown and apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arts.

Releasable closures of the invention include loop and hook fasteners,press clamps, cords, belts, and similar attachments that can achieve asnug fit around hand and foot openings of the arm and leg portions ofthe wet suit to maintain a thermal seal when in the closed position. Thereleasable closures can be attached to the outside or the inside of thewet suit so long as the snug fit can be maintained when the releasableclosure is in the closed position. A releasable closure, such as a hookand loop fastener or a press clamp, that can be secured using one handis preferable because of the ease of operation, and to free up the otherhand for example to holding a surf board.

An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit comprises a wet suithaving an arm portion with a first hand opening for a hand, and a legportion with a first foot opening for a foot; gussets at the first handand foot openings that increase the elasticity of the arm and legportion near the gussets; and releasable closures for securing gussetsaround the hand and foot openings, and providing a snug thermal seal forthe arm and leg portions.

An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit comprises a wet suithaving arm portions with hand openings for each hand, and leg portionswith foot openings for each foot; the leg and arm portions of the wetsuit having gussets at the hand and foot openings to increase theelasticity of the arm and leg portions near the gussets; and releasableclosures for securing gussets around the hands and feet to provide snugthermal seals around the hand and foot openings of the arm and legportions.

Wet suits can be constructed as full length, single piece suits and astwo-piece suits with separate tops and bottoms. The present invention isintended to encompass full length, single piece suits and two-piece wetsuits with separate tops and bottoms. A top or a bottom piece of a twopiece wet suit would benefit from the present invention.

For example, a top piece according to the invention would comprise anarm portion with a hand opening for a hand, and a gusset at the handopening, and a releasable closure for securing the gusset around thehand opening to provide a snug thermal seal for the arm portion. Abottom piece according to the invention would comprise a leg portionwith a foot opening for a foot, and a gusset at the foot opening, and areleasable closure for securing the gusset around the foot opening toprovide a snug thermal seal for the leg portion.

An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit comprises a wet suit(one piece or two piece suit) having an extremity portion with anextremity opening for an extremity, and a gusset at the extremityopening to increase the elasticity of the extremity portion near thegusset; and a releasable closure for securing the gusset around theextremity opening to provide a snug thermal seal for the extremityportion.

Those persons of ordinary skill in the arts would be able to use theteachings in this application to make an easy access and egress surfer'swet suit of the present invention to fit different users, such as men,women, and children.

Further uses of the benefits of the instant teachings will become knownto those skilled in the art by studying the figures in combination withthe claims which are appended hereto.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specificexamples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within thescope of the following claims.

1. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit comprising: a. a wetsuit having an arm portion with a first hand opening for a hand, and aleg portion with a first foot opening for a foot, and gussets at thehand and foot openings that increase the elasticity of the arm and legportion near the gussets; and b. releasable closures for securinggussets around the hand and foot openings, and providing a snug thermalseal for the arm and leg portions.
 2. An improved access and egresssurfer's wet suit according to claim 1 wherein at least one of thegussets is substantially in the shape of a triangle.
 3. An improvedaccess and egress wet suit according to claim 2 wherein the gussetsubstantially in the shape of a triangle is at the hand opening of thearm portion.
 4. An improved access and egress wet suit according toclaim 2 wherein the gusset substantially in the shape of a triangle isat the foot opening of the leg portion.
 5. An improved access and egresssurfer's wet suit according to claim 2 wherein at least one of thereleasable closures is outside of the wet suit.
 6. An improved accessand egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 2 wherein at least oneof the releasable closures is inside of the wet suit.
 7. An improvedaccess and egress surfer's wet suit comprising: a. a wet suit having armportions with hand openings for each hand, and leg portions with footopenings for each foot; b. the leg and arm portions of the wet suithaving gussets at the hand and foot openings that increase theelasticity of the arm and leg portions near the gusset; and c.releasable closures for securing gussets around the hand and footopenings, and providing snug thermal seals for the arm and leg portions.8. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 7wherein at least one of the releasable closures is a hook and loopfastener.
 9. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit accordingto claim 8 wherein at least one of the gussets is substantially in theshape of a triangle.
 10. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suitaccording to claim 9 wherein the gusset substantially in the shape of atriangle is at the hand opening of the arm portion.
 11. An improvedaccess and egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 9 wherein thegusset substantially in the shape of a triangle is at the foot openingof the leg portion.
 12. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suitaccording to claim 10 wherein the gusset substantially in the shape of atriangle has a base of about 2 inches at the hand opening closest to thehand, and an apex of about 2 inches measured at the point of thetriangle away from the base.
 13. An improved access and egress surfer'swet suit according to claim 11 wherein the gusset substantially in theshape of a triangle has a base of about 2.5 inches at the foot openingclosest to the foot and an apex of about 6 inches measured at the pointof the triangle away from the base.
 14. An improved access and egresssurfer's wet suit according to claim 8 wherein at least one of thegussets is a shape selected from a group consisting of substantiallysemi-circular cut, substantially square cut, substantially rectanglecut, and substantially pencil shaped cut.
 15. An improved access andegress surfer's wet suit according to claim 8 wherein at least one ofthe releasable closures is on the outside of the wet suit.
 16. Animproved access and egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 8wherein at least one of the releasable closures is on the inside of thewet suit.
 17. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suitcomprising: a. a wet suit having an extremity portion with an extremityopening for an extremity, and a gusset at the extremity opening thatincreases elasticity of the extremity portion near the gusset; and b. areleasable closure for securing the gusset around the extremity opening,and providing a snug thermal seal for the extremity portion.
 18. Animproved access and egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 17wherein the wet suit is a top piece of a two piece wet suit and theextremity portion is an arm portion with a hand opening for a hand. 19.An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit according to claim 18wherein the gusset is substantially in the shape of a triangle, and hasa base of about 2 inches at the hand opening closest to the hand, and anapex of about 2 inches measured at the point of the triangle away fromthe base.
 20. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit accordingto claim 17 wherein the wet suit is a bottom piece of a two piece wetsuit and the extremity portion is a leg portion with a foot opening fora foot.
 21. An improved access and egress surfer's wet suit according toclaim 20 wherein the gusset is substantially in the shape of a triangle,and has a base of about 2.5 inches at the foot opening closest to thefoot, and an apex of about 6 inches measured at the point of thetriangle away from the base.